Folding rule.



PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

R. G. PLATT.

FOLDING RULE.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 28, 1906.

THE NORRIS FETERS ca, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES Parana orrron.

FOLDING RULE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed December 28,1906. Serial No. 349,863-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROY G. PLATT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Rules, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to rules of the type adapted to fold,- thepurpose being to devise novel means for holding the sections extended,the rule being of such construction as to admit of its members orsections folding one upon the other from opposite ends.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

IVhile the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a side view of the folding rule embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a per spective view of two rule-sections, showingthe invention applied to the joint thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the parts shown in Fig. 2 extended. Fig. 4 is a transverse section onthe line 4 4 of Fig. 3 looking to the left.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The rule may embody any number of sections according to the length ofthe same when extended and according to the length of the rule whenfolded. The sections fold in the same plane and are hinged or jointed atopposite ends to admit of the sections opening and closing inalternation from opposite ends. As illustrated, the rule comprisestwelve sections numbered, respectively, from 1 to 12, inclusive. Theseveral sections are hinged or jointed in the usual manner, the sections1 and 2 being jointed at one end, as at a, whereas the sections 2 and 3are hinged or jointed at b. The several sections are alternately jointedat op osite ends, whereby upon opening the ml the section 1 will swingto the left, the

section 2 to the right, and so on throughout the series, the severalsections folding one upon the other from opposite ends in successiveorder and opening-in a similar manner in reverse order.

For holding the sections extended flat springs 13 are secured toopposite edges of the sections at their ends, said springs projecting ashort distance beyond the joints and having catch-stops 14 to one sideof a plane touching the side of the section from which the catch-stopsproject, whereby when the sections are extended the stops 14 will snapover the section hinged to that provided with the springs and actjointly with the rule-joints to hold the sections in alincment. Toprevent interference of the si1nilar catch-springs with one another, ithas been found expedient to apply the springs 13 to opposite ends ofalternate sections and to arrange the springs at opposite ends of thesection, so that the catch-stops 14 project in opposite directions. Itwill thus-be understood that the sections may be opened or closedwithout the springs or catch-stops 14 interfering the one with theother.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In arule comprising sections connected by the usual rule-joint, springsapplied to opposite edges of a section and extended beyond the joint andprovided with catchstops to snap over the adjacent section and hold thesame when extended.

2. A rule comprising a plurality of sections jointed at opposite ends inalternation, springs applied to the edges of the sections and extendedbeyond the joints and having catch-stops to engage over the adjacentsections and hold the same extended when the rule is unfolded.

3. A rule comprising a plurality of sections jointed at opposite ends inalternation and springs applied to opposite ends of alternate sectionsand having catch-stops at one side of the springs, the catch-stops ofthe springs applied to the same section facing in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROY G. PLATT. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

H. D. KULP, JAMES GILLETT.

